Inner Workings of My Mind

Chapter 2

Gohan was once again surrounded by a smoking forest, illuminated by the yellow glow of his Super Saiyan transformation. The young hybrid stretched his limbs in an attempt to relieve some of the tension in his muscles and powered down into his base form. His spine felt unusually tense and sore.

Unfortunately, working off energy in an attempt to remain in control and reign in his aggression was no longer as effective as it once was.

Gohan slid into the basic stance of the kata he had learned from Piccolo. He flowed through the movements while keeping his breathing even. In. Out. In. Out.

Gohan was so focused on his movements and attempting to relax that he did not notice the ki approaching him.

Vegeta landed at the edge of the destroyed clearing, the crunch of his boots as he landed catching Gohan's attention. The half-breed whirled around to face the Prince and instinctively slid into a defensive stance.

Vegeta snorted. "I'm not here to fight, boy."

"Vegeta? Sorry. You just surprised me," Gohan said as he slid out of his stance. "What are you doing here?"

Vegeta continued his way through the clearing and stopped a couple of meters away from Gohan.

"Well, brat. I want you to tell me why you are constantly out here raising your ki."

Gohan frowned and the inquiry. Apparently, he had attracted attention. "I'm just blowing off some steam, Vegeta," he said. Gohan hoped it could just be left at that, but knowing the Saiyan Prince it would not be so.

Vegeta snorted in disbelief. "This seems to be a bit more than 'blowing off some steam'," he commented as he observed the destruction surrounding them. "Boy, when was the last time you sparred?"

"Ummm... A long time. The last time I had a decent fight was against Bojack," Gohan responded.

Surprise briefly flashed across Vegeta's normally impassive face. "You haven't fought since that accursed tournament with Bojack! Not even against the Namek?"

Gohan shrugged. "Nope. I haven't seen Piccolo that often. I have just meditated with him a couple of times. My mother doesn't let me fight, Vegeta. I thought you knew that!"

Anger and annoyance flashed across Vegeta's face. "That damn woman! You're a Saiyan and you need to fight! No wonder you need to 'blow off some steam.' You haven't had a decent fight in months! Boy, you are going to start sparring regularly with someone be it with myself or the Namekian," the man ordered.

Gohan could feel his annoyance growing. How dare Vegeta dictate his life? Sure, he wanted to spar, but he also wanted his mother to be happy. She had already put up with so much. No, he could deal with it just fine!

"No thanks, Vegeta. My mother doesn't like me fighting."

"Saiyans aren't meant to be buried in the books, brat! You can't just go from being the most powerful being in the universe to an inactive bookworm especially when you're a Saiyan! Surely, you feel the desire to fight this very moment?" Vegeta demanded.

Gohan shook his head in an attempt to deny Vegeta's words. Of course, Vegeta was right and they both knew it. Gohan could feel his control slipping; he did want to fight.

Vegeta could feel Gohan's ki rise slightly before he took off in the air. "Just leave me alone, Vegeta," he called as he flew off.

Vegeta watched in frustration, but did not go after him.

Piccolo sat in front of his waterfall, meditating. He focused on the distant ki of his student and Vegeta. The Namekian had, of course, noticed Gohan recent unusual behavior. Apparently, Vegeta had noticed as well. However, Piccolo had decided to not approach Gohan. Instead, he decided to wait for his student to come to him.

Piccolo had sensed something darker and more dangerous lurking within Gohan and knew that this new situation had to be approached with caution. It would not do to set off his student by pushing him over the edge.

To Piccolo's surprise, he felt Gohan's ki begin heading his way.

Gohan landed ungracefully, his anger making him unsteady. The young Saiyan didn't know why he had come to Piccolo, but he just knew that he couldn't head home. Not with the state that he was in.

Piccolo was in his usual cross-legged position above the waterfall, meditating. The Namekian had given no indication that he had noticed the hybrid, but Gohan knew that Piccolo had both sensed and heard his arrival.

Gohan hovered just above the ground and drifted next to Piccolo. He copied his mentor's position and began meditating. It would be a good way for him to calm down.

Piccolo patiently monitored his student, waiting for him to speak his mind.

Several hours later, Gohan moved out of his position and landed. He let out a huge yawn and stretched. The boy seemed unsure of what to say to his mentor. He was sure that Piccolo had also noticed his recent behavior. If Vegeta had, then Piccolo certainly had.

The Namekian opened his eyes and got up out of his meditative position, so he could focus on his student better. Piccolo had noticed Gohan's hesitation and decided to get straight to the issue.

"What has been bothering you, kid?"

Gohan looked uncertain before a pondering expression appeared upon his face. "Vegeta came to see me," he began. "He said that he noticed that my ki has been raising a lot recently. I'm sure that you have noticed as well... He said that I need to spar more." Gohan looked disgruntled as he finished his explanation, a scowl printed across his face.

"And you don't want to?" Piccolo asked.

Gohan shook his head. "Of course I want to. But, I can't."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow in question, silently asking Gohan to elaborate.

"My mom doesn't like me fighting, but I want to! I can't go against what she tells me. She is already so stressed from the pregnancy, and since dad isn't around to help..." Gohan trailed off. He was just so confused and angry, but why?

The floodgates had opened. Piccolo patiently waited for Gohan to complete his tirade; only Dende knew how much suffering the boy had been through. He just needed to let it go.

"Why?" Gohan asked. "Why did dad leave us? He had a chance to come back and he said no! He left me and my mother all alone! And now, my little brother or sister will never know their father!" His hands balled into tight fists, fingernails digging into flesh.

"Why can't my mother understand that I don't want to be buried in books for my whole life, that I need to fight? I'm slowly going insane! Vegeta was right. But, I can't disappoint her or stress her out! She has already been through so much! I don't know what to do..."

His breaths came short and heavy, anger and confusion clouding his mind. What was he going to do?

"Kid."

Gohan didn't look up. His fists were clenched tightly by his sides; his ki was erratic. Piccolo sighed. He was no good at dealing with children, but he had to try for Gohan.

"Gohan."

Gohan reluctantly looked upwards towards his mentor.

"Kid, it sounds like you need a way to please your mother and get a good spar at the same time? Have you ever considered just not telling her?" Piccolo asked. He knew that Gohan hated deceiving people, but surely he could cope with it this once.

"She would notice, Piccolo. She would notice me wearing my gi or taking it with me. My clothes would be torn when I get home, and I would need to be gone hours at a time to get a decent spar, way more time than I am usually gone for. And I'm not good at hiding things from her..." Gohan looked down towards his feet and his shoulders sagged.

"Arrange something with Bulma," the green man proposed.

"Huh?" Gohan asked, confused by what Piccolo was trying to get at.

"Tell Bulma that you need a place to stay. She can tell your mother that you are staying at her place for an internship at Capsule Corporation. Your mother will be happy, you'll get a break from her, and you'll be free to come spar with me."

Gohan's jaw dropped at the possibilities. It was perfect! The boy smiled a brightly. He hadn't felt this happy since the Cell Games.

"Thanks, Piccolo! I'll go arrange it with Bulma right now!" Gohan jumped off into the air and flew off in the direction of Capsule Corporation.